MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team picked up a 10-7 win over Ouachita Baptist to give the program its first conference win since 2007. OBU won the second game 2-0.
 
In the first game, the Weevils (7-26-1, 1-7 GSC) used three runs in each of the first and fourth innings to gain a sizeable lead over the Tigers (27-14, 4-7 GSC).
 
In the first inning, junior Drew Harper did most of the damage with a two-RBI double down the left field line, scoring junior Blaine Ivey and freshman Jeremy Gill. Earlier in the inning, Gill opened UAM’s scoring with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to score junior Matthew Lewis, who led off the inning with a single.
 
In the fourth inning, junior Tyler Henry was the star with a two-RBI double to right field, scoring Lewis and junior Ariel Mercedes.
 
Ivey also had a productive game, going 3 for 4 at the plate with a pair of RBI and runs scored. One of his RBI came in the third inning, when he smashed his team leading fifth homerun of the season, a solo-shot over the right field wall. In the sixth, Ivey picked up his second RBI with a single to right field.
 
Junior Matt Whiting was a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate, while Henry was the only other Weevil with three hits after going 3 for 5.
 
Junior Casey Cathcart (1-1) allowed only one run off four hits in his five and two thirds innings of work. Junior Rod Williams picked up his first save of the season after the holding the Tigers scoreless in the top of the ninth inning.
 
OBU’s Chase Baran (4-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing eight runs off 11 hits in his five innings of work.
 
In the second game, OBU’s Rudy Jovanovski smashed a two-run homerun to left in the only run producing at bat of the entire game.
 
Whiting was the only batter for either team to record more than one hit after going 2 for 3 at the plate. Whiting increased his season batting average to .272 after going 5 for 6 in both games combined.
 
OBU’s Will Gowdy (8-1) picked up the win after scattering only two hits and striking out seven batters in his five and one third innings of work. Sean O’Rourke picked up his second save of the season after keeping the Weevils scoreless in the final one and two thirds innings.
 
Sophomore Brett Stewart (0-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs off four hits and walking none in his four innings of work.
 
UAM looks to win the series as the two squads play the final game of the series tomorrow (Sunday) starting at noon at Weevils Field.